EPP Group Bureau meeting in Dubrovnik: Croatia contributing to the future of Europe

The EPP Group Bureau is coming to Dubrovnik to mark the conclusion of Croatia's accession to the European Union. Croatia will become an EU Member State on 1 July 2013. The EPP Group has consistently supported Croatia on its European path, particularly since the start of EU accession negotiations in 2005. Croatian governments led by HDZ, member of the European People's Party, conducted the entire process of accession negotiations, ending them with success in June 2011.

The last EPP Group Bureau meeting held in Croatia, in Zagreb on 3-4 March 2011, was crucial to ensuring the timely conclusion of the negotiations. Immediately prior to the meeting, the European Commission released an interim report on progress in Chapter 23, Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, with a number of critical findings. The discussions during the meeting and the participation of the Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding, were key to the successful response of the Croatian authorities and the effective end of negotiations in June 2011.

The main topic of the Dubrovnik meeting is the political, economic and social situation in Croatia on the eve of accession and the contribution Croatia will bring to a united Europe. Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, and Tomislav Karamarko, President of the HDZ, will address participants on 11 April in the morning. Members of the European Parliament, Members of the Croatian Parliament and Croatian Observers to the EPP Group will take part in the discussion.

Sustainable growth and jobs in the EU is the second major topic of the meeting, with discussions on relaunching the competitiveness of the EU's economy and the EU's budgetary contribution to sustainable growth and jobs, with Commissioner Jan Lewandowski in charge of Budget and Financial Programming and Vice-President Viviane Reding as key speakers. Croatia is considered as being a part of the EU for these discussions. The growth and jobs topics in detail include: exploiting the Single Market's potential, supporting SMEs ("Entrepreneurship 2020" Action Plan), strengthening research and development (Horizon 2020) and developing transport and tourism.

Technical details

The meeting is open to the media. Accreditation will be possible at the meeting venue.

On Thursday, 11 April at 12:30 hrs, a press conference will be held with participation of::

·     EPP Group Chairman Joseph Daul

·     HDZ President Tomislav Karamarko

Photographs from the meeting will be copyright free and made available by the FAH Hina service. For photographs contact FAH HINA directly.

The meeting will be webstreamed live on www.eppgroup.eu